Real Madrid
Trent Alexander-Arnold on the verge of signing for Real Madrid: all the details
Alexander-Arnold’s signing for Real Madrid is almost complete. He continues to ignore Liverpool’s proposals and wants to go to the Bernabéu.
The signing is 90% complete - practically done. Trent Alexander-Arnold: Bellingham’s best friend, England’s right-back and corner-kick maestro who famously dismantled Barça at Anfield, has one foot in Real Madrid.
In the Spanish capital, they are cautious about celebrating prematurely, not until the deal is sealed - but that moment appears imminent.
Trent Alexander-Arnold continues to rebuff Liverpool’s renewal offers while responding positively to Madrid’s advances. Yes, he wants to move to the Bernabéu. Yes, he has no doubts. Optimism is building.
Everything is agreed upon, with only the signature pending - which can officially happen from 1 January. The countdown has begun.
The operation has gained momentum in recent weeks. Regardless of when Dani Carvajal returns (“My goal is to be ready for the Club World Cup”), there are lingering concerns about his form and, more significantly, the recognition that the time has come to secure a generational successor. A player who can share the position with Carvajal for a few years and eventually replace him outright. Dani will turn 33 this January, and doubts about Lucas Vázquez - valued as a capable backup but not as a first-choice option for 60 games a season - have prompted the club to elevate what was once a desire into a priority. The accelerator pedal has been floored.
Real Madrid’s right-back backups
A right-back is a necessity for the LaLiga club - this is undeniable. And the ideal candidate is Alexander-Arnold. The contingency plans, if required, are Pedro Porro (‘Plan B’) and Frimpong (‘Plan C’), with Sevilla’s promising Juanlu emerging as a hypothetical ‘Plan D’.
However, ‘Operation Trent’ looks highly promising. Real Madrid informed Liverpool some time ago, following proper protocols, of their intention to engage in talks with the player. There were no objections. The relationship between the two clubs is amicable. Liverpool, while reluctant to lose him, acknowledged Alexander-Arnold’s right to choose his future after years of service. Still, they harbour hope of convincing him to stay, of winning the race against Madrid. But they are falling short.
The pivotal date of 1 January looms large. Although discussions have already taken place, regulations prevent any formal agreement before then. According to Article 18, Section 3 of FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players: “A club wishing to enter into a contract with a player must notify the player’s current club in writing before initiating negotiations. The player is free to sign if their current contract expires within six months.” Real Madrid have very much adhered to the guidelines. Now, the only step remaining is the signature.
Will Trent arrive at Madrid in January?
One crucial detail of this operation is that the move will happen in the summer, not during the winter transfer window. Alexander-Arnold wants to leave Liverpool on good terms. Departing mid-season to join a direct Champions League rival would feel like a betrayal. Both parties have ruled out a winter transfer. Trent, after all, was born in Liverpool, raised in Liverpool, and has only ever played for Liverpool.
He is an icon there, a symbol of the club’s academy and the local community. A player with the aura of a captain who already has an iconic mural outside the stadium. “I’m just a normal boy from Liverpool who has seen his dream come true,” the mural quotes him as saying. No one wants him to leave, but his departure feels inevitable.
Alexander-Arnold’s move to Real Madrid is 90% complete. Optimism has been bolstered by recent conversations confirming there have been no surprises or last-minute changes. Alexander-Arnold, as mentioned, continues to reject Liverpool’s renewal offers and has made clear his commitment to joining the Bernabéu and playing alongside his friend Jude Bellingham. Real Madrid are eagerly anticipating 1 January, aiming to finalise the deal that month. However, out of respect for the player and his final months at his boyhood club, any public announcements will be deferred.
The long-awaited signature is near. It is the last piece of the puzzle. Trent Alexander-Arnold wants Real Madrid, and Real Madrid want Trent Alexander-Arnold. The deal is ready.
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